Nepo sticks true to his guns, playing one of his main openings to try to win on demand. This opening is heavily studied at the top level, giving dynamic games with chances for both sides.
Nepo successfully breaks down Esipenko's weak pawn, but Esipenko is quick to allow the capture. While Nepo is currently material up, Esipenko is aiming to gain counterplay by putting heavy pressure against Nepo's queenside.
Esipenko's pressure against Nepo's knight in addition to the dark squares in the center gives him enough compensation for the lost material. He will have to play precisely, however, as a slip-up may instantly give Nepo a clear advantage.
Esipenko finds a way to break down Nepo's strong center, capturing a pawn to distract Nepo's defense of his bishop!
Nepo gives up his bishop voluntarily in an intermezzo, maintaining his material lead.
Despite the fact that Esipenko remains material down, his pieces are now placed in very aggressive postures. Esipenko should have enough dynamic play to claim equality.
Taking the match situation into account, however, Nepo should be decently happy about the development of this game. Esipenko will have to continue his precise play to avoid ending up in unfavorable endgames!
Esipenko manages to win back the lost material, but new weaknesses are revealed as a result of Esipenko's maneuver.
The game remains on a knife's edge, and any result is still possible!
Despite the fact that Esipenko's center is exposed as a result of his earlier capture, he should have everything under control here. Nepo has not managed to gain any clear advantage, and likely has to rely on his extra time on the clock to win this game.
Esipenko tries to disrupt Nepo's queen who's has an important defensive role.
Nepo's last move allows Esipenko to force Nepo's queen from the defense of one of his pieces!
Esipenko plays too fast, and Nepo finds a counterthreat!!
Nepo starts an attack against Esipenko's king, and Esipenko's position falls apart out of nowhere!
Seemingly at the verge of elimination, Nepo finds one final trick to save his tournament life! Having a winning position, Esipenko fails to spot a key counterattack against his queen that suddenly made the position completely turn around! Despite his position almost falling apart, Nepo suddenly was the one having attacking chances, and a bishop sacrifice swiftly turned the position upside-down.
Nepo's incredible resourcefulness saves his tournament life for now, and we're going to armageddon!